Wichita eagle., 1887-08-14
HE SAYS HE KILLED A NAN.
J. ID. Rantan Confess to the Killing OF l.
Lawrence 1t Crittenden, KY, Si1
Nom hs Ago,

An arrest, or rather self-deliverance
justice. which promises to be OF no snlaii ii'
portance, was made yesterday.
About noon a rather aged and somewhat
| intoxicated man named B. Reno, from KING
man, came to Officer Ireland and told him
that young man had given himself up tt
| him for the killing Of party some time be
fore in kentucky. The officer, although
| somewhat surprised, took the person indl
Gated and went with him first to Judge DIX
on, then to Justice Walker, and afterwards
gave him over to the Sheriff.
In the meantime the gentleman who hac
| made the delivery Of the prisoner had Sent
the Sheriff of Grant county, KY, the follow
ing telegram:
"Have your man Rantan, if you want hin
let me know at once. b. KENO.
The man who had thus given himself uI
was seen at Justice Walkers. He is tall and
slender, about q years of age, has brown han
light ewes. a large nose, thin lips and slight
moustache He was poorly dressed, wearing
an old suit of jeans, blue shirt and biacS
SLOUGH hat. When spoken to regarding the
crime to which he confessed, he refused 70
give any further information than that the
man he killed was T. Lawrence, OF Crltten-
den, Grant county, KY; time about SIX
months ago. How or under what circuin
stances the crime was committed he refused
tn give the least explanation. His name, be
said was D. r. Rantan.
Grant county is in the northern part OF
Kentucky and Williamstown, its ounty seat,
is about 100 miles ain ost directly south OF
Cir cinnati. Crittenden is a small place near
the northern bound y of the county and
eleven miles north of Williamstown
Reno was found at the Valley House on
East Douglas; he was still somewhat mtoxl-
Gated and could give no information as 10 the
killing. He says he often saw young hantan
At Kingman. where they both lived for
some time. and where Rantan was en-
gagged as a clerk at hotel or boarding
house. He said that Rantan came to him
and said that he had killed a man back In
Kentucky, and that as he felt sure they were
in pursuit of him, he thought he would give
himself up He thought Reno was as good a
man as any to whom the $3.50 would come,
and so he would let him make bis arrest;
and Reno agreed to give him suit of clothes
with which to make presentable appear
ance when he reached home.
Under Sheriff Brown was at first inclined
to look upon the man with suspicioan, be-
lieving him to be an imposter who wanted
free transportation to Kentucky He, how
ever, had the young man to write and send
the following telegram:
'sTo Sheriff, Williamstown, KY, K. d.
Rantan has given himself up, if you want
let me know at once. T. F. BROWN"
The following message was received ap-
parently in reply to the first one and
signed by Reno
81 want two men, one about 40 years old,
large man, sore on leg between knee and an
kle. The other weight about 16O pounds,
prominent upper teeth, light hair. Which
one have you gotr'
Later the sheriff received the following:
"Hold Rantan until can see about requisi
ton paper from the governor"
Whether the man be an imposter and only
endeavoring to get free transportation to
Kentucky as many think, or whether he be
the guilty man and has become sick Of fl
ing from justice, will no doubt be made clear
by the arrival of the officials from Kentucky.